To plan any event, especially ones the size and scope of the Alberta Indigenous Games, takes a lot of determination, patience and energy.

Jake Hendy, CEO of Alberta Indigenous Games 2021 says it takes volunteers to make the games a success!

“Volunteers, it’s so vital to our games to have our volunteers. One of our biggest parts is our registration, when everyone comes in to check in to make sure their waivers are all done. They have their team form, their badges, their swag bag. You have to organize it by team, by division, by sport, so floods of, I mean, over 2,500 kids that registered their teams for themselves, individually are coming, and so we need people every day.”

Hendy says he is happy that the parents stepped up as volunteers.

Nineteen-year-old Andie Marchand is from Cold Lake First Nation. When she was 16 she had her first Indigenous cultural experience. She was inspired to enroll in Native Studies and is volunteering at the Indigenous Games this week, saying this is her way of giving back to the community.

“Volunteering at events such as these makes me feel like I’m giving back because it definitely has given me back so much.”

Hendy says the volunteers for the games have been so helpful.

“We have volunteers to set up our chairs, to take down our chairs for our opening, for medal ceremonies. We have a lot. We cannot make these games happen without our amazing volunteers, so it’s been really good.”

Closing ceremonies and Circle of Courage Awards for the games will be held at Rundle Park on Thursday evening.

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